Robert Strauss

Flipping the great presidential biography on its head, Worst. President. Ever. is an enlightening--and highly entertaining!--account of poor James Buchanan's presidency. This book proves once and for all that, well, few leaders could have done worse. But author Robert Strauss also explores with insight and humor the entire notion of ranking our presidents. He guides us through the POTUS rating game played by historians and others, the world of presidential history buffs, presidential sites, the presidency itself, and how and why the White House can often take the best measures out of even the most dedicated men.

James Buchanan, the POTUS Rating Game, and the Legacy of the Least of the Lesser Presidents

Worst. President. Ever

Jeremy Anderberg

Though certainly not a traditional or overly thorough biography of James Buchanan, I rather enjoyed Strauss’s brief look at the guy who’s most often considered to be the worst president ever.

Though clearly not fit to lead a nation on the brink of civil war, Buchanan did have an interesting personal life, and was quite possibly our first gay president. The Pennsylvanian floated around the political world, not having many firm opinions and not making much of an impression; because of that, he also never disqualified himself from service. In the complex soup of antebellum politics and factions, Buchanan found himself at the top of the Democratic ticket in 1856 and won the office of the presidency. In the tumultuous years that followed, Buchanan did a whole lot of nothing except for throwing the occasional party. As with Fillmore and Pierce, he wallowed in his inability to act, but on an even grander scale.

Strauss, much like me, has an affinity not for Buchanan himself but for the presidential ranking game as a whole. Who are the other guys in consideration for the lowest spot on the list? Why is Buchanan deserving of that placement? What about the middling fellas who didn’t do overtly terrible things but just sort of floundered in the role, i.e. Fillmore?

There are a number of interesting tidbits in Worst. President. Ever. and the writing style was right up my alley. Strauss is often personal, even irreverent and funny at times, while also providing a readable history of a lesser-known figure from American history. Plus, he did it in less than 225 pages! Quite a feat, frankly. This is certainly one of the most approachable books I’ve read while delving into the presidents and one of a handful that I’d feel comfortable recommending to a broader audience. Give it a shot and let me know what you think.

Worst. President. Ever James Buchanan, the POTUS Rating Game, and the Legacy of the Least of the Lesser Presidents

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